Tangerine dreamland
BLACKPOOL boss Neil Critchley dedicated a memorable derby victory to the fans.
Winger Keshi Anderson’s first goal for 10 months and Gary Madine’s second-half finish saw the Tangerines claim bragging rights over the misfiring Lilywhites.
And victory for Blackpool was extra special given it was their first home win over their Lancashire rivals for nearly 24 years.
Midfielder Ben Whiteman wasted a glorious chance to equalise for the visitors early in the second half, but he didn’t even hit the target with just keeper Dan Grimshaw to beat.
The miss proved costly as the recalled striker Madine scored to make it three wins in their last four games for Critchley’s improving charges.
Defeat for Preston means they have still not won away in the league all season and, to rub salt into a painful wound, skipper Alan Browne lost his cool in injury time and was sent-off.
The Republic of Ireland international was given a second booking after getting involved in a melee just before the end of the game.
“These wins are for the supporters – the three points is for them today,” said Critchley. “It was an unbelievable atmosphere, it always is, but today it went up another level.
“The supporters will enjoy their night – and rightly so. We’re finding different ways of winning football matches.”
The winner came when Madine (above) combined well with strike partner Yates, to seal a memorable triumph in the clubs’ first meeting for over a decade.
“I’m bitterly disappointed for the fans,” admitted North End chief Frankie Mcavoy.
“I know what it means to everybody and as a group we know we need to be better.”
BLACKPOOL: Grimshaw 6; Husband 6, Keogh 6, Ekpiteta 7, Gabriel 6; Anderson 8, Dougall 7 (Connolly 83), Wintle 7, Bowler 7 (Mitchell 87); Madine 6, Yates 6 (Carey 79). Subs not used: Moore, Dale, Garbutt, Sterling. PRESTON: Iversen 6; Hughes 5, Bauer 6, Storey 6; Earl 5 (Maguire 65, 4), Browne 5, Whiteman 5 (Potts 74, 4), Berg 5; Johnson 5 (Barkhuizen 64, 5); Sinclair 5, Jacobsen 6. Subs not used: Rudd, Cunningham, Lindsay, Ledson. MAN OF THE MATCH: Keshi Anderson. His first league goal for 10 months helped secure prized derby bragging rights. REFEREE: Tim Robinson 7.